Critical Analysis of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

Oceans are vital to the planet's survival. Despite covering more than 70% of the planet and being one of the world's largest food producers, they have found themselves entangled in a tangle of disputes, pollution problems, competition over lucrative fisheries in coastal waters and adjacent seas, and a growing tension between coastal nations over these resources. This study examines ITLOS's jurisdiction and the cases considered by the tribunal. Tensions occurred between attempts by large maritime powers to preserve the status quo on the one hand, and attempts by major maritime powers to maintain the status quo on the other, as coastal governments attempted to defend their economic interests over vast expanses of sea.